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Climate change a ‘likely contributing factor’ in deadly Nepal floods, new study reveals
Human-induced climate change played a role in the ‘preconditioning of the disaster’ that killed 1,400 and left 6,150 missing A new study by research group World Weather Attribution has revealed how climate change was a likely factor leading to the devastating floods across Nepal and Tibet. Published on Thursday, the report stated how human-caused global warming thinned glaciers and melted mountain permafrost – ground that usually stays frozen – and ultimately intensified processes that destabilised the glacier ice and rock wall near the peak of Langtang Lirung mountain. The collapse led to 110 million cubic metres of rock and ice hitting the valley below, triggering huge flash floods that travelled at more than 177 kilometres per hour (110mph). Enjoying this article? Check out our related reads… ‘Rock avalanches of this size are rare, with annual frequency estimates of approximately one event this size every 1,000–10,000 years,’ said the study. ’This […]